The Brian Windhorst highlighted a major concern for the Los Angeles Lakers on First Take Wednesday, noting the team performs poorly when LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves are all on the court together.
“Big, big issue,” Windhorst said. “When Austin Reeves and Luka Doncic play together—when it’s just the two of them out there—the Lakers are an excellent team. When all three of them play out there, they’re not.” He cited a 20-point difference per 100 possessions in favor of the duo without LeBron.
The trio has only started 10 games together this season, with Los Angeles going 6-4 in those contests. The team has relied heavily on managing injuries, with James, Doncic, and Reaves missing significant stretches over the past two seasons.
Windhorst explained the underlying problem: “They all relatively do the same thing. They all need the ball in their hands… When it’s just LeBron out there by himself, guys, they’re a very good team. When it’s two of the three, they’re a very good team. When they’re three together, they’re a bad team.”
The Lakers’ recent 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic highlighted the issues. Los Angeles fell behind early, clawed back to a one-point deficit with under three minutes left, but a late putback by Wendell Carter Jr. secured the win for Orlando. Doncic recorded 22 points and 15 assists, James and Deandre Ayton added 21 each, and Reaves scored 18 in the second half.
Offensively, Los Angeles shot 48% from the field and 71% from the line but struggled with turnovers and execution down the stretch. The homestand saw the team drop four of six games, a period that Windhorst cited as a clear indicator of the trio’s inefficiency.
When only Doncic and Reaves are on the floor, the Lakers excel, posting a 10-4 record without LeBron.
The Lakers currently sit 34-23, sixth in the Western Conference, with upcoming road challenges at Phoenix and home games against teams like Houston looming.
